In 2016, after an early season injury to quarterback Drew Barker forced UK to revamp its offense, Gran’s running backs combined for more than 3,000 rushing yards, with Stanley “Boom” Williams and Benny Snell Jr. Bowden became just the 10th player in school history to reach 4,000 all-purpose yards in a career, finishing with 4,660 career all-purpose yards for No. Bowden won the Paul Hornung Award for the nation’s most versatile player and was a first-team All-American and All-SEC selection.

The Cats set new single-season records in rushing yards (3,624), rushing TDs (36) and yards per rushing attempt (6.32). And despite losing his top three quarterbacks to injury in 2019, Gran did a remarkable job of revamping the offense with Lynn Bowden Jr., a receiver-turned-quarterback.

In 2016-18, UK had more than 2,000 rushing yards and 2,000 passing yards, the first time in school history that was accomplished in three consecutive seasons. Gran served as the Wildcats’ assistant head coach of the offense, offensive coordinator and running backs coach from 2016-2020. Jon Hale: Twitter: Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: Gran, former UK assistant head coach, offensive coordinator and running backs coach, returned to the program as a special assistant to the head coach in September of 2021. Gran will now go on the road to help close UK's 2019 signing class during the first recruiting weekend of the January stretch drive before the February signing period. More UK coverage: What we learned from Kentucky basketball's win over Texas A&M With Snell gone to the NFL draft, Kentucky is expected to throw the ball more in 2019. Kentucky has ranked no better than 97th in the country in passing offense in Gran’s three seasons as offensive coordinator with dual-threat junior college quarterbacks Stephen Johnson and Terry Wilson at the helm, but the physical offensive style was key in the program reaching three-straight bowl games and posting just the third 10-win season in program history in 2018. Gran's first season at UK in 2016 saw the Wildcats boast two 1,000-yard rushers in the same season for the only time in program history in Snell and Boom Williams. Snell developed into UK's career rushing leader and the only three-time 1,000-yard rusher in program history. He was the 33rd highest-paid assistant coach in the country last season.Ī longtime friend and former colleague at Florida State of UK coach Mark Stoops, Gran came to Kentucky from Cincinnati before the 2016 season with high-octane passing offense on his resume, but he quickly shifted to a run-heavy, read-option attack after the emergence of star running back Benny Snell as a freshman. His current contract calls for a $25,000 raise for an $875,000 salary in 2019. You may like: Linebacker Kash Daniel trades pads for pole for UK's bass fishing teamįollowing a 10-3 season, it is likely many members of the UK football staff were already in line for raises and contract extensions, but Georgia’s interest in Gran could accelerate those discussions. Read more: How Kentucky football early enrollees can fill holes on 2019 depth chart On Thursday, there were conflicting reports as to whether or not Gran had actually been offered a job by Georgia, but either way he is set to stay in Lexington for a fourth season. Later in the day, media outlets from Georgia echoed that news, including, which reported Georgia coach Kirby Smart had spoken with Gran about the job. The Courier Journal reported Wednesday that Gran was a candidate for the job opened when Jim Chaney left Georgia for the same position at Tennessee. Mark Stoops will not need to search for a new offensive coordinator after all.Īfter receiving interest from Georgia for its open offensive coordinator position, UK offensive coordinator Eddie Gran tweeted Thursday evening he is 'all in' with Kentucky. Watch Video: Kentucky football reporter talks Eddie Gran to Georgia rumor

Eddie gran coaching bio